Amadou

[martin]

Can anyone tell me how to prepare Amadou from Tinder Fungus (Fomes fomentarius)? I have cut away the cuticle and the pore tubes.What I am left with will take a spark. But what is the next step?

[Ed]

I thought that 'Amadou' was just another common name for the tinder fungus....
In ye olden days it was prepared by gently boiling it in 'strong' urine for 3 days and nights, drained, then left to dry..... don't suppose that is much help though. :rolleyes:

Ed

[bigjackbrass]

I thought that 'Amadou' was just another common name for the tinder fungus....Ed

And here I was thinking it was that old party song by Black Lace...

[Martyn]

I thought that 'Amadou' was just another common name for the tinder fungus....Ed

And here I was thinking it was that old party song by Black Lace... :rolmao:

[martin]

Could be the old Olivia Newtronbomb song. :roll: :lol:

[Keith_Beef]

Can anyone tell me how to prepare Amadou from Tinder Fungus (Fomes fomentarius)? I have cut away the cuticle and the pore tubes.What I am left with will take a spark. Bu what is the next step?

If you can read french a bit, try this google search:

http://www.google.fr/search?hl=fr&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=amadou+feu&meta=



I didn't know that you used amadou in England

[Martyn]

According to somwhere on the web...


http://wmuma.com/tracker/skills/fire/tinderfungus/
http://www.survivalschool.com/production_site/articles/Fire_Making/tinder_fungus.htm

[martin]

Thanks for the links Martyn just what the doctor ordered.

[Gary]

Martin best way is to take the fungus cut off the waste as you have done then soak it in a LYE solution (grey ashes from your fire mixed with water) I leave it for a few days then grow impatient and take it out and hit it with a mallet - this softens it.

Keep this up or leave in soak until the fungi lays break apart and resemble pulpy leather.

[Jeff Wagner]

I can expand only slightly on the above reply. The solution of potassium hydroxide derived from hardwood ashes reportedly needs to be concentrated, either by boiling or repeatedly passing the water through a large container of ashes until the solution reaches a density such that an egg will float. I believe the Fomes is then boiled in this solution.

Please note - you will want to avoid the use of mothers good kitchen utensiles for this operation... :shock:

[ESpy]

Ob. pedant - lye is more normally sodium hydroxide, wood ash gets you more potassium hydroxide... Both are caustic, both will work. But sodium hydroxide is more hygroscopic.

:-D

[ChrisKavanaugh]

http://www.ragweedforge.com/striking.html has a detailed procedure for preparing Amadou the traditional way and preparing char cloth. Ragnar's bookfiles and links area goldmine of information- if you ever get past the fascinating stuff you never heard about.